Everyone loves a birthday surprise but Claire Sweeney was over the moon to win a dream part on her favourite TV soap Coronation Street on the day she turned 52.
Incredibly, it wasn’t the first time she’d landed a role on her birthday – in 1990 Claire won the life-changing role of Lindsey Corkhill in Brookside as she celebrated her 19th.
“Isn’t that a wonderful coincidence?” smiles Claire. “I got offered Brookside on my birthday and I also got offered Coronation Street on my birthday.